Kia ora e te whanau. We hope you all enjoyed the Easter long weekend. We have just one more week until school holidays. Remember to put your clocks back an hour tomorrow night for the end of daylight savings.

Student Reports and Learning Conferences: Student reports will be available to caregivers via Hero at the end of Term 2.  You will also have the opportunity to book learning conferences through Hero also.  If you haven't managed to access Hero, please get in touch with your child's teacher or the office if you need help. 

Area Assemblies: All friends and whanau are welcome to attend our Area Assemblies that take place on even week Fridays from 12 noon.  Rm 1,5,6,7,8,16,17 are in the Library and Rm 9,10,11,12,13,14,15 are in the Hall. Dates for Term 2 are : 10 & 24 May, 7 & 21 June, 5 July. 

Strategic Planning: Our Strategic Plan for 2024-2025 along with our Annual Implementation plan is attached below and is now available to view on our website.  Our three strategic goals for the following two years are: 

• Redesign and implement a curriculum that meets the needs of all learners
• Build upon connections between home, school and community to increase learner attendance & engagement 
• Strengthen holistic Hauora practices to support positive relationships & sense of belonging

Learning in Action: Room 13 were lucky enough to have Kim Wall from the Kānuka Mid Canterbury Regeneration Trust coming to see us on the first Wednesday of every month to explore biodiversity and our footprint. Today students discussed what biodiversity means, and how plants, insects and other living creatures such as birds and humans need each other to survive. They got to see leaves and sticks under a microscope! This introduction to biodiversity is great to get the students thinking about where our topic "What lies beneath?" may take us!

Student of the Week: Zac of Rm 14. Zac is an enthusiastic, hard working and positive member of Room 14. Zac is constantly doing the right thing and is a fantastic role model for Hampstead School. He puts 100% effort into everything he does and will help others out without needing to be asked. I appreciate Zac’s bubbly personality and his willingness to give everything a try! We are so lucky to have you in Room 14 Zac! Ka pai Zac, keep up the great work!

Kai for Kids: During the school holidays in April, Kai for Kids are going to open up the kitchen for lunch for any students of Hampstead School and their whanau. The kitchen will be open each week day over the holidays between 11.00am – 12.30pm. This kai is available at no cost to families. Kai for Kids is located at Base Youth Centre, 193 Burnett Street (Please note change of venue from previous newsletter). Follow the Kai for Kids signs once at the racecourse building.

Upcoming Dates:

End of Term 1: Friday 12 April
Start of Term 2: Monday 29 April
Board of Trustees Meeting: Wednesday 15 May, 6pm in Puawai
Bully Free Pink Shirt Day: Friday 17 May
Whole School Cross Country: Tuesday 28 May
New Whanau Afternoon Tea: Wednesday 29 May, from 3pm in Rm 1

Kind Regards,

Claudine Campbell (Principal)